Are you struggling with the loss of aroma from dried lemon balm? Simply turn the freezer into an aroma safe. Most of the flavor is retained when frozen. Explore the best methods for freezing fresh lemon balm here.

Freeze lemon balm leaf by leaf - this is how it works

Storing lemon balm by freezing only makes sense if the herbs can be removed individually. So that the lemon balm leaves do not stick together, clever hobby gardeners insert an intermediate step during the frosting. How to do it right:

  • Rinse the freshly harvested lemon balm under running water
  • Spread out on paper towels and let dry
  • then spread on a plate so that the leaves do not touch
  • Place in the freezer compartment to pre-freeze

You only need to take the hard-frozen lemon balm leaves out of the deep freeze for a short time in order to transfer them to a freezer box. This step should be completed as quickly as possible so that the lemon herb does not thaw again. With this simple trick, you can now remove individual papers as needed to use them as you like.

How to conjure up lemony herbal ice cubes

Chefs swear by lemon balm frozen in portions. This method has two advantages: The unique aroma is almost completely preserved and the lemon balm is immediately ready to hand to give warm dishes the finishing touch. It's that easy:

  • harvest the lemon balm just before it blooms
  • Pluck off the leaves, clean and chop finely
  • Fill each compartment of an ice cube tray two-thirds full with lemon balm
  • fill up with cold water and freeze

In this way, the lemon balm can be kept for at least 1 year. If necessary, remove one or more cubes and add them to the warm food while frozen. It is important to note that the lemon balm is only added towards the end of the cooking time. As soon as the herbs cook for a few minutes, the aroma is gone.

tips and tricks

Do you already know the herbal vinegar with the freshness kick? You can easily make this aromatic ingredient for creative cuisine yourself. Put a good handful of fresh lemon balm in a glass bottle and fill it up with apple or wine vinegar. Leave in a dark, cool place for 14 days and strain - done.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden